Alfred Deller

Deller, Alfred, 1912–79, English countertenor. He began his career as a chorister in his parish church. From 1940–47 he was a lay clerk at Canterbury Cathedral, and in 1947 he was appointed to the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Deller's unusual voice was particularly suited to Renaissance music and to the music of Handel and Purcell. In 1948 he formed the Deller Consort, which presented authentic performances of medieval, Renaissance, and baroque music; the consort made numerous recordings and performed all over the world. Deller's son, Mark Deller, is also a countertenor, who often performed with his father.